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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. &' G. E. SUTGL-IFPE. APPARATUS FOR WASHING, BLEAGHING, AND DYEING.

No. 403,305. Patented May 14, 1889.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. & G. E. SUTCLI PFE. I APPARATUS FOR WASHING, BLEAGHING, AND 'DYEING.

No. 403,305. Patented May 14, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Rave. E. SUTOLIPFE. APPARATUS FOR WASHING, BLEAGHING, AND DYEING.

No. 403,305. Patented May 14,1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ELY SUTCLIFFE AND GEORGE E. SUTCLIFFE, OF HALIFAX, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING,

BLEACHING, AND. DYEING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,305, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed November 15, 1887. Serial No. 255,239- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, ELY SUTCLIFFE and GEORGE EDWARD SUTOLIFFE, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, of the Patent Process Dyeing Company, (Limited,) of.

of sliver.

In other specifications filed in the United States Patent Office on the same day herewith we have described a method of obtaining the sliver coiled upon a perforated tube, so as to form a bobbin-shaped package, and We have also described a process of treatment of such package. The apparatus which we are about to describe herein is particularly adapted for use in the conducting of the said process in the dyeing of the said sliver or in the washing and bleaching of the same, and is also adapted, generally, for use in the treatment of yarns or other textile materials not in the condition of sliver.

In our improved apparatus a hollow perforated shaft is mounted to revolve within a f chamber, and means are provided whereby the direction of revolution of the said shaft may be reversed at intervals. The said shaft receives the perforated tube around which the sliver or textile fibers is or are coiled or packed. The liquors used in the process are pumped, forced, or drawn through the mass of material and through the hollow shaft in the center of the mass, means being provided whereby the direction of the flow of the liquor may be reversed at intervals.

Our invention can be best described with reference to the accompanying three sheets of drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. certain parts being represented in section, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the other side of the machine. Figs. 3 and 4 are detached views of the motion for reversing the direction of v the flow of liquor, Fig. 4 being on a plane at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the valve which controls the flow of liquor. Fig. 6 is a section of the driving-pulleys on the first-motion shaft. Fig. 7 is a section of the pulleys on the end of the hollow shaft. Fig. 8 is an end view of the cage in which the materials to be treated are inclosed.

In order to simplify the description, We will for the most part describe the machine as being used in the dyeing of cotton sliver.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a is a hollow shaft, which is mounted to revolve within a chamber, A, which is provided at one end With a remov able door, b, or the said door may be hinged, so that it can be opened and closed. When the door is closed, it is secured by means of the clamps c 0. One end of the shaft to revolves in a bearing formed in the said door, the other end of the shaft passing through a bearing formed in the other end, I), of the chamber into and across a smaller chamber, (1, whence the shaft continues in a solid form, a, through a packed gland, b and through the bearing 6 in the framing of the machine, and carries a set of fast and loose be1t-pul1eys,

f f, and a single fast belt-pulley, g.

The pulleys f f are separately represented in Fig. 7, wherein f is a sleeve which is loosely mounted to slide upon the shaft a, and is provided at one end witha half-clutch, which can be caused to engage with the other half of the clutch, which is fast to the shaft. The pulleys f f are loose upon the sleeve, the pulley f being fast upon the sleeve. The pulleys f f are connected by cross and open belts with a drivingdrum, h, which is fixed to the shaft i, driven by means of a belt, j, which receives motion from the millshafting. The said cross and open belts are controlled by means of a beltrfork, k, which is attached to one :arm of a crank-lever, which is mounted upon a fulcrum at 15 these parts being .seen best in Fig. 2. A rod, k passes through an eye in the end of the other arm of the said crank-lever, and is mounted by one end upon a crank-pin, l, which is carried by a spur-wheel, Z, which gears with a pinion, Z fixed upon a cross-shaft, Z This cross-shaft extends from one side of the machine to the other, and carries at its other end a spur-wheel, m. (Seen most clearly in Fig. 1 and in the detached view, Fig. 3.) This wheel m gears with a pinion, m, which revolves upon a fixed stud and is attached to a wormwheel, m which engages with a worm, m fixed upon the shaft t'. The result of this arrangement is that a slow revolving motion is communicated to the wheel Z, and the rod 7& is thereby caused to push or draw the end of the lever according as the rod may be n1oving in one direction or the other. Two spiral springs are mounted upon the rod 7.2 and their meeting ends press in opposite directions against the end of the lever 70' in order to impart an amount of elasticity to the connection; but these springs may be dispensed with. It will be seen that .as the said rod slides to and fro the belt-shipper will be moved slowly to and fro, whereby the two belts will be successively shifted onto and off the cen tral fast pulley, f, one belt being slowly shifted off the pulley f and the other belt onto the same pulley, thereby effecting the reversal of the direction of revolution of the hollow shaft a. It will also be seen that the belts are shifted to and fro in each complete revolution of the wheel. l, so that for a part of the period of such revolution the shaft a will revolve in onedirection, and for another part of the period of revolution of the said wheel the shaft a will revolve in the reverse direction. As the belts are shifted by a slow movement, it will be seen that there will be an interval between each reversal during which interval there will not be a belt on the pulley f, so that the shaft a will be at rest for a short time during each of such intervals, and also that there will be a gradual reduction and increase of speed at each change of direction.

lVe will proceed to describe the means whereby the fiow of liquor is controlled.

The chamber A is connected with a valvebox, 13, by means of a pipe, or, and the chamber (Z is connected with the same box by means of a pipe, 0, the two pipes'communicat ing, respectively, with two ports, 92. 0, formed in the valve-face, as seen in Fig. 5. A slidevalve, 19, puts the one port into communication with a discharge-pipe, q, and the other with the interior of the valve-box, which is in communication with a pipe, 7", which proceeds from a centrifugal pump, a, driven by the shaft '1'. This pump is of ordinary construction, and has an inlet or suction pipe, 7*, which conveys the dyeing-liquor to the pump. \Vhen the valve 13 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the dye-1iquor from the pump will pass through the port 0 and pipe 0 into the chamber (Z, and, fiowin g through perforations in the shaft a, will pass along the shaft and flow out into the chamber A through the perforations seen in Fig. 1. The liquor from the chamber will pass through the pipe 71 and the port a into the discharge-pipe g, which conveys the liquor back into the dye-cistern or other outlet, according to the arrangements. lV hen the valve isslid into its other position, the direction of flow of the liquor is reversed, the liquor flowing first into the chamber A and passing through the hollow shaft into the chamber (.1, whence it flows through the pipe 0 and port 0 into the discharge-pipe q. Means are provided whereby this reversal is effected several times during the dyeing of a package of sliver. The end of the valve-rod p is connected by a link with one end of a rock-lever, 19 which is mounted upon a fulcrum at 19 and'is jointed by its other end to the end of a rod, p. (Seen best in Fig. 1, and also in Fig. Upon this rod is loosely mounted a sleeve, .9, which is connected by means of a spiral spring with an adjustable collar, .9, and is moved to and fro upon the rod by means of a rock-lever, 3 which is mounted upon a fulcrum at s. The lower end of this lever is connected by a link with a crank-pin, t, which is fixed to the wheel on, hereinbefore referred to. As this wheel revolves, the lever s is rocked upon its fulcrum, whereby the sleeve .5- is slid to and fro upon the rod 19', thereby alternately extending and compressing the spiral spring. The said rod is locked in one or the other, alternately, of two positions by means of a weighted locking-lever, a, which is mounted upon a fulcrum at a, and engages, alternately, with two catches, a 11. which are fixed or formed upon the said rod. The said locking-lever is formed as a bell-crank, and is unlocked by means of inclines a, which project from the back of the wheel m, and which,by pressing againstthe pen dent arm of the lever, withdraw the lever from a notch in the catch. As the wheel m rotates, the locking-lever holds the rod pi while the spring isbeing compressed or ex.- tended until the lever is knocked off by one of the inclines a, when the rod will yield to the pressure or the pull of the spring, as the case maybe, and the valve p will move across the valve-box, and thereby reverse the flow of the current of liquor. There being two inclines on the wheel m, it follows that the valve is moved to and fro, so as to reverse the flow of liquor twice in each revolution of the wheel m. The catches a a have inclines which guide the locking-lever into the notch in the catch at the end of each movement of the rod. Means are provided for increasing the speed of revolution of the hollow shaft to at the will of the operator. At the end of the first-motion shaft is a set of four pulleys, which are separately shown in Fig. 6. Of these pulleys u is fast to the shaft and the other pulley, t", is loose. The other two pulleys, w and w, are cast or fixed together and are also loose. The larger pulley, w, drives the pulley g on the end of the shaft (1. by means of a belt, 00. When the main belt j is on the pulley o, the shaft a is revolved first in one direction and then in the other, and the pump and reversing motions are actuated as hereinbefore described. hen the belt is shifted onto the pulley o, the rotation of the shaft and of the pump and reversing motions ceases. \Vhen the belt is shifted onto the pulley w, the belt rotates the hollow shaft at an increased speed. The belt j is shifted by a belt-shipper, j, which is carried by a sliding bar, A clutch-lever, y, turning upon a fulcrum at y, is adapted to engage with the grooved end of the bush f so that by acting upon the lever the bush carrying the fast and loose pulleysff can be slid along the shaft a, the clutch f being thereby disengaged or engaged. The pendent end of the clutch-lever is acted upon by pins if when the bar 7' is moved to shift the belt j. In Figs. 1 and 2 the belt j is on the loose pulley and all the parts are at rest. When the bar 7' is shifted in the direction indicated by the arrow, the machine will be started and the hollow shaft will revolve in reverse directions; but if the bar j be shifted in the contrary direction the belt j will pass onto the pulley w, and at the same time the pin will act on the clutch-lever, so as to disengage the clutch, the action of the pump and of the reversing motions ceasing and the hollow shaft a being rapidly revolved. Then the bar 7' is shifted back to put the belt 3' upon the fast pulley 'U, the pin 11 pushes forward the lever to re-engage the clutch.

It will be seen that the hollow shaft a is provided with a number of collars, which fit the interior of the perforated tube which is within the package of sliver. If the perforated tube fitted close to the hollow shaft, it would be necessary to have the perforations in the two register, and this would be practically difficult. These collars divide the space between the shaft and the tube into a number of annular chambers, each of these communicating with the interior of the shaft by means of perforations, which are so proportioned as that the aggregate area of the whole shall not exceed or not much exceed the area of the passage through the shaft, the intention being that the stream of liquid shall fiow regularly throughout the length of the package of sliver.

We use the machine in the following manner: The hollow shaft is provided with a perforated cage, D, made of wire-gauze or of perforated metal. In some cases this cage is fast to the shaft, so that the package of sliver is pushed endwise into the cage, or otherwise the cage is filled with the yarn or with loose cotton or fibers, as the case may be; but in the example the cage is removable and is hinged, as shown in Fig. 8, so that it can be opened to receive the package or to be filled with yarn or fibers. The cage is carried around with the shaft by means of a projecting carrier, (1. hen the package is placed in the cage, the ends of the inner tube come against rubber packings, which prevent the escape of liquor. The package being in position, the machine is started and li uor is pumped through the package. The

reversals of the flow of liquor and of the rotation of the package and the variations in the speed of such rotation and occasional cessation of rotation caused by the slow shifting of the belts on the pulleys ff have an important effect in producing uniformity of result throughout the sliver, owing to the innumerable lines of flow of the liquor through the Y sliver. When the operation has been been carried far enough, the bar j is shifted to stop the pumping and the rotation of the package, and the liquor drains out of the chamber A. The bar 7' is now shifted to put on the quick speed, and the rapid rotation of the package discharges the excess of liquor, thereby effecting an economy in the use of liquor, and also partly drying the sliver. In practice the inlet-pipe r can be connected with a supply of water, so that the remaining unfixed dye-liquor may be rinsed out. Suitable arrangements are made for supplying to the pump lye or any liquor or liquid which may be required mule operation.

The chamber A is provided with asuitable air-discharge valve, 2, which closes when the chamber is full, this valve being provided with a cock, .2, so that the air may be kept in the chamber when desirable. A self-acting air-inlet valve, 2 of a suitable construction, is applied to the chamber d to let in air when the package is revolved rapidly. Any suitable cocks or valves arranged to be opened by hand or self-actingly may take the places of the valves z 2 We do not claim in this application the process of dyeing textile materials described, as that forms the subject of a separate appli cation for a patent filed by us November 15, 1887, Serial No. 255,237.

We claim as our invention- 1. An apparatus for washing, bleaching, or dyeing textile materials, said apparatus comprising a closed chamber and a hollow perforated shaft therein adapted to be surrounded by the materials to be treated, in combination with driving-pulleys, belts, and a belt-shifter for reversing, supply-pipes communicating with the interior of the shaft and the interior of the chamber to allow a flow of liquid through them, and a valve for reversing the direction of the fiow at intervals, all substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus for washing, bleaching, or dyeing textile materials, and comprising a closed chamber, a hollow perforated shaft therein provided with collars, and a perforated inclosing-tube to fit over the collars on the shaft, in combination with driving-pulleys, belts, and a belt-shifter for reversing, supply-pipes communicating with the shaft and chamber, and a valve for reversing the direction of the flow of liquid, all substantially as set forth.

3. An apparatus for washing, bleaching, or dyeing textile materials, and comprising a chamber and a hollow perforated shaft to carry the said materials in the form of a package around the shaft, in combination with driving-pulleys, belts, and belt-shifter for reversing, supply-pipes eonnnunicating with the shaft and chamber, a valve for reversing the flow of liquid, and an additional set of driving belts and pulleys to give more rapid revolution to the shaft when the liquid is to be discharged from the package, all substantially Operating the valve at intervals to reverse the direction of the current of liquid, all substantially as set forth.

5. An apparatus for washing, bleaching, or dyeing textile materials, and comprising a closed chamber, a hollow perforated shaft provided with collars, and a perforated inclosm tube to carry the said materials and to ht on the shaft, in combination with mechanism for forcing or drawing liquid through the materials, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELY SUJCLLIFFE. G. E. SUTCLIFFE.

\\"itnesses:

EDWARD K. DUTTON, DAVID FULTON. 

